October 2018 Newsletter

The results are in! This year’s jury-selected roster of Official Showcase Artists represents an exciting array of international artists performing many folk genres including Appalachian, Americana, Blues, Bluegrass, Celtic, Cajun, Global Roots, Indigenous, Indie-Folk, Latin, Old-Time, Singer-Songwriters, and more. Out of 1,000 applicants from 25 countries, 180 (representing 23 countries) received a showcase slot. There is so much talent in the folk music industry, we are humbled by the talent and excited for Montréal!

The time has come for FAI to renew its vision and commitment to the future, as we do every three years in our formal strategic planning cycle. It is powerful to look back at what we've accomplished over the past 30 years, and the consistent progress FAI has made towards its goals.

This summer our board and senior staff met in Raleigh, NC for a facilitated strategic planning session. During this time they reviewed the accomplishments of the past and addressed FAI's goals and opportunities for the future. The board refined the mission statement and created a new strategic plan for the years 2018 - 2021, both of which have been formally adopted.

The new Folk Alliance International mission statement is to serve, strengthen, and engage the global folk music community through preservation, presentation, and promotion.

To accomplish this, the following four new strategic objectives were also outlined:

This year's Conference brings the world's first International Indigenous Music Summit to Montréal. On Thursday, February 14th, 2019, from 10am-3pm, Indigenous artist and community leader, ShoShona Kish will facilitate the event. Coinciding with the UN's declaration of 2019 as the International Year of Indigenous Languages, the summit will connect artists and partners to build a respectful and safe community setting for Indigenous leaders to gather, innovate, and collaborate. This event is exclusively created by and for Indigenous people.

As FAI grows, so must our office! We've found a new home in Kansas City. It's not much bigger than our last office, but it does include a small space for us to create public programs and music events. We are excited about the opportunities this new space will enable us to pursue and we are grateful to property owners Crossroads Westside for the trust they have placed in us.

Going forward, FAI will use this space to be a stronger contributor and advocate of artistic and cultural offerings in the city. Starting with the local version of our traveling showcase brand Finest Folk (see more details below).

Although we won't officially move in until October 15th, FAI is hosting our first event THIS FRIDAY! The inaugural series of our local version of Finest Folk will coincide with Kansas City's First Fridays event in the Crossroads District.

Finest Folk First Fridays is a “listening-room” concert series presenting a diverse selection of the finest in local and regional folk music. It is free and open to the public and is being produced with support from KC's Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund (NTDF).

Our first event on October 5th, features artist John L. Keck who will be kicking things off in our new office!

Don’t forget to register now for our 2019 conference on February 13-17 in Montréal.

Making Connections

We're continuing our effort to connect with our community outside of industry events. So far in 2018, we have hosted gatherings in Raleigh, NC, Baltimore, MD, Minneapolis, MN, and London, England.

Last Friday, our Executive Director
Aengus Finnan hosted a reception with board members at Gracias Madre restaurant in Los Angeles, CA. The purpose of these events is to connect with local members and to build relationships with potential partners and new folk friends.

More Must-Sees in Montréal!

Only five short months left until conference! Keeping August’s tips from Mundial Montréal’s own Déborah Cognet in mind, we now present the words and wisdom of Cécile Doo-Kingué giving some stellar advice on where to eat, sleep, look, and listen in Montréal.

Favorite restaurant: Quartier général. Great food and service, and it’s a BYOB. Kamela Couscous: the chicken is off the hook. Tsak Tsak: great brunch menu & they understand what hot sauce is supposed to taste like.

Favorite music venue: Dièse Onze: great music, food and atmosphere; top notch musicianship every night. Same goes for Café Resonance: great music, great vegan options on menu, owned by badass musicians. Grumpy’s: home of Chick Pickin’ Mondays; great spot to discover ...

Members can refer a first-timer and save money. You earn $50 towards your paid registration for each qualifying registrant who names you as their referral source.

Refer five first-timers and earn $250--that's a free conference registration!Not a member yet? Become one now! Check out the details on this referral program here and SAVE on registration for this year's FAI conference.

Conference Hotel

Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth is the official conference hotel. It is located in the heart of Montréal's thriving shopping and business district. In 2019, they will be celebrating the 50-year anniversary of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed-in at the hotel where they recorded “Give Peace a Chance.”

*The hotel is selling well ahead of pace and it is anticipated it will sell out in early fall.

Grants for US Attendees

There are funds available to support performances by US artists invited to perform at important cultural festivals and performing arts marketplaces in the US as well as anywhere in the world; this includes FAI's Montréal conference.

As a general rule, passports should have at least six months of validity when traveling internationally. Most countries will not permit a traveler to enter unless the passport is set to expire at least six months after the final day of travel.

Make sure you are travel ready! Now is a good time to double check any additional travel documents and get them updated. Non-Canadian attendees can visit this page for information on the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) and information to attend or showcase at industry events in Canada.

This is the perfect time for people to apply for Global Entry, a trusted traveler program that can save you hours by accessing expedited lines at Customs. More information and eligibility criteria can be foundhere.

NACC Chart Member Discount

FAI has negotiateda member discount of $50 a month for industry and $25 for artists for access to the North American College and Community (NACC) Folk Chart. Find more details and sign up here.

Jeremy Dutcher recently won the Polaris Music Prize which is determined by a member vote that is based on artistic merit; it is considered one of Canada's most prestigious prizes. Jeremy, who was an Official Showcase artist at FAI 2018, is a brilliant example of the talent and artistry bursting from Indigenous communities around the globe. Additionally, he is a leading voice in a growing movement of Indigenous creatives breaking the silence imposed by racism, colonization, and marginalization.

Indigenous leader, fellow creative, and host/ facilitator of the upcoming International Indigenous Music Summit, Shoshona Kish of Digging Roots, said this of Jeremy, "Indigenous artists, like Jeremy, are raising their voices with a power born of the land and tradition and a creative force full of originality and innovation. This is the sound of our past and our future."

Attention Members! Do you have memorable news to share with us? Follow @FolkAlliance and tag us on social media and let us know about the notable moments in your career!